Malibu, CA (September 10, 2011) – The 2011 Malibu Music Awards has chosen Kansas City’s own, Sarah McMullen, as the Grand Prize Winner of their Original Songwriting Competition. The Malibu Music Awards celebrate the success, achievements and accomplishments of those who have made a significant contribution to the music industry and the discovery of emerging new talent and upcoming stars. MMA Founder Terence J. Davis said, “Sarah has a promising future. She is very talented.” He went on to say, “We are very excited to have found such a great talent.” The MMA will be held September 24, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Malibu Country Mart in Malibu, CA.

The competition is judged by music industry professionals ranging from top producers all the way to A&R from Sony, Universal, EMI, as well as reps from Live Nation. One of the guest judges is legendary Joel Diamond, 40 year Music Producer, Manager and Songwriter, who has recorded with every artist from Gloria Gaynor to Engelbert Humperdinck and also dominated social network campaigns and won internet competitions to replace Simon Cowell as the next American Idol Judge last year. As part of the winnings, Sarah will be offered a one-year recording contract and distribution deal with Arrival Records that could lead to a longer term if both parties mutually agree.

Sarah is set to perform her original dance song “Skyscraper” during the award ceremony along with many other music legends. The evening will honor Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy and SAG Award Nominated Actress/Singer Lainie Kazan, Frank Stallone, Robert Davi along with many other celebrities. Honorary Chair is Linda Thompson who is responsible for writing songs with David Foster such as “I Have Nothing” sung by Whitney Houston in The Body Guard as well “No Explanation” for the movie Pretty Woman. As part of the week’s festivities, Sarah will also be performing at the infamous Malibu Inn located on “Billionaire’s Beach” on Thursday September 22nd.

Over the last year and a half, the 16-year old honor student at Blue Valley North High School has won Pop Artist of the Year at the LA Music Awards, graced the covers of Herlife and Blue Valley Today magazines and was featured in 435 South. Sarah also recently performed at the Selena Gomez/All Star Weekend concert, opened for Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush at Mix 93’s Red White Boom, and was called to fill in for Miranda Cosgrove after her bus accident to perform with Cody Simpson in Wichita. She also shot her music video to “Skyscraper” in downtown Kansas City in the heart of the Power and Light District. Sarah said, “My hometown has given me so much support and I wanted my first music video to represent where I am from. I had all my friends, family, and even Steve Serrano from Mix 93 part of the video right in the heart of Kansas City.”